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Roanoke City (Virginia) from Mill Mountain Star at DuskPhoto: Joe Ravi · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Roanoke

How is Roanoke run?

Roanoke’s city government spent $614 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $6,275 per resident. Water and other utilities ($14.3 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Virginia.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$614.0M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$6,275
In 2022: $5,097, more than 56% of 18 similar cities
Long-term debt
$287.9M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2025
4,074
full-time · 572 part-time · March payroll $23.8M
Typical tax bill
$1,893
0.99% of home value · VA 0.73%

What stands out about how Roanoke is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online3 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Mayor Joseph L. CobbAs listed by Open States, October 9, 2026.Runs its own schoolsThe schools are part of the city budget, not a separate district.Split between districts2 House of Delegates districts cover Roanoke; your street decides yours.
★ What stands out · Meetings

3 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Roanoke’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $6,275 per resident a year, or $17.19 a day

Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 43% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
From the state 33%Property taxes 27%Sales taxes 11%From the federal government 11%Fees & charges 10%Other taxes & licenses 4%Interest, fines & other 3%From other local governments 1%Utility sales <1%
Schools included

Roanoke runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Virginia cities of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $90 million; interest on debt $6 million; payments to other governments $490,000. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $727.8 million.
Compared with similar places

$5,097 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar cities

Roanoke’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($5,097 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 18 Virginia cities of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,700, and the middle half spent $4,204–$5,540. Roanoke spent more than 56% of them.

Middle half of the group, $4,204–$5,540Median $4,700Roanoke

Includes sewer and trash ($10.1 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
18

Virginia cities of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Roanoke itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 22% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Roanoke reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$504.9 million
2023$571.6 million
2024$614 million

Per resident: 2022: $5,097 · 2023: $5,782 · 2024: $6,275.

City staff
4,074

full-time in March 2025, up from 3,659 in 2022.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Roanoke

From public records with a current term; a name is hidden the day its term ends.

Joseph L. CobbMayor · as listed by Open States, October 9, 2026Office of the Mayor ↗

Council members and agencies: roanokeva.gov ↗

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $1,893 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.99% of the home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Virginia$2,790
Cave Spring$2,646
Salem$2,316
Hollins$2,236
Roanoke$1,893
Vinton$1,641
$1,893
typical bill a year
0.99%
effective rate
$190,500
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Roanoke’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Roanoke’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Roanoke →

Who works for Roanoke

One full-time city employee for every 24 residents

On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (97,847).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025

Schools2,319 + 335 pt
Police313 + 22 pt
Fire289 + 24 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections258 + 22 pt
Health & welfare230 + 1 pt
Parks & libraries132 + 138 pt
Administration & buildings188 + 18 pt
Housing & development122 + 4 pt
Roads & transportation98 + 1 pt
Sewer & trash51
Other74 + 7 pt
4,074
full-time
572
part-time
$23.8M
payroll for March 2025
$285.2M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$67,400
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
203
sworn police officers
285
full-time firefighters
Compared, 2022.Roanoke had 36.9 full-time staff per 1,000 residents in March 2022. The median for the 10 of the 18 Virginia cities of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools that reported 2022 staff was 37.9: Roanoke had more than 50% of them. Same group and year as the budget comparison.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Roanoke City Public Schools

Roanoke’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Roanoke, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Roanoke →
$19,439
per pupil · VA $17,169
13,582
students
$40.7 million
long-term debt

Of the $19,439 per pupil, $11,305 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 35%State 49%Federal 16%

Virginia districts overall: 49% local, 41% state, 10% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Roanoke voted in 2024

Official results for Roanoke’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President42,314 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat60.8%25,737 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican37.3%15,787 votes

Others: 1.9% (790 votes).

Most votes in Roanoke: Kamala D Harris

Roanoke city: Harris 60.8%, Trump 37.3% · Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%

Turnout
59%

of Roanoke’s 71,558 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Virginia: 71%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate41,840 votes
Timothy M KaineDemocrat63.8%
Hung CaoRepublican36.0%
Others0.2%

Most votes in Roanoke: Timothy M Kaine

Roanoke city: Kaine 63.8%, Cao 36.0% · Virginia: Kaine 54.4%, Cao 45.4%

U.S. House · Virginia’s 6th District407,035 votes
Ben L ClineRepublican63.1%
Ken L MitchellDemocrat34.8%
Others2.1%

Most votes in the district: Ben L Cline

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Roanoke, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Roanoke60.8%37.3%1.9%42,314
Roanoke city60.8%37.3%1.9%42,314
Virginia51.8%46.1%2.1%4,503,288
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Roanoke

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Roanoke.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor
    Joseph L. Cobbas listed by Open States, October 9, 2026
  2. 2
    Virginia House of DelegatesRoanoke is split between 2 districts
    Sam RasoulJoe McNamara
  3. 3
    Virginia SenateState senator
    David Suetterlein
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Abigail Spanberger
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Ben Cline
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Virginia
    Mark R. WarnerTim Kaine
Find your state legislators by address ↗

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Roanoke compares with the towns next door

Roanoke spent $5,097 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $4,767. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Cave Spring: unincorporated, no town budgetSalem: $4,767 per resident (2022)Vinton: no reported 2022 figuresHollins: unincorporated, no town budgetCave SpringSalemVintonHollinsRoanoke
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Salem$4,767 runs schools$2,316
Vintonestimate$1,641
Roanoke$5,097$1,893

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Roanoke’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websiteroanokeva.gov ↗

Questions about Roanoke’s government

How much does Roanoke spend per resident?

About $6,275 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $5,097 was more than 56% of 18 Virginia cities of 50,000–99,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Roanoke?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,893 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.99% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.73% across Virginia. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see roanokeva.gov.

Who is the mayor of Roanoke?

Joseph L. Cobb, as listed by Open States (checked October 9, 2026). The council and agencies are listed on roanokeva.gov.

How did Roanoke vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 60.8%, Donald J Trump 37.3% (42,314 votes, official results). Roanoke city: Harris 60.8%, Trump 37.3%. Virginia: Harris 51.8%, Trump 46.1%.

How many people work for Roanoke?

4,074 full-time and 572 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $23.8M (about $285.2M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.

Who represents Roanoke in the state legislature?

Roanoke is split among 2 House of Delegates districts, so your address decides. The Virginia Legislature’s lookup finds yours. Its State Senate district is District 4 (David Suetterlein). Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Roanoke?

The next posted meeting is City Council on Monday, November 16, at 2:00 pm in 215 Church Avenue, S. W., Suite 450, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Roanoke’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →